by Allix Ollivier

Allix Ollivier is a Development Associate at Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California. VAC shares their animal rescue adventures with us every month. Check out KRL’s interview with VAC to learn more about what they do.

To properly introduce our Mr. Darcy, we must steal a quote from Jane Austen’s Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice, “My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” Just like Mr. Darcy’s literary counterpart, everyone at the Valley Animal Center fell in love with him, and you will too!

Mr. Darcy was surrendered to our facility along with his brother and sister almost two years ago. At only a couple of days old, Mr. Darcy and his siblings were struggling to survive. Their temperatures were low, they were dehydrated, and covered in fleas. Our staff worked hard to save the Darcy family, but in spite of the staff’s best efforts, Mr. Darcy’s brother and sister passed away.

Mr. Darcy at 1 week

In an effort to save the last of the siblings, one of our Cat Adoption Associates took Mr. Darcy home to give him around-the-clock care. Slowly, Mr. Darcy showed improvement. He was getting warmer, his eyes were a little brighter, and his skin was a little pinker. After a week of tube feeding, he was able to graduate to eating from a syringe. Shortly after that, Mr. Darcy was able to eat from a bottle!

Extremely proud of Mr. Darcy’s progress, our Cat Adoption Associate shared the good news with her family. One of her family members, intrigued and impressed by Mr. Darcy’s story, asked if she could help foster him. Because Mr. Darcy still had a long road of recovery ahead of him, she was given approval to officially be his foster parent until Mr. Darcy could find his forever home. We are hoping that by sharing his story, a perfect “Elizabeth” out there will come meet him and fall in love!

Mr. Darcy on the road to recovery

Even if your name isn’t Elizabeth, perhaps Mr. Darcy could still be your dream man. Now fully recovered from his kittenhood ordeal, Mr. Darcy is currently available for adoption, and he truly is a handsome companion! Until Mr. Darcy finds a forever home, he will continue to live here at the Valley Animal Center. In order to provide shelter, treatment, and care for the lovable dogs and cats we have at our center, we appreciate any and all donations. Contributors like you help fund the pets at our facility until they find their forever home.

Mr. Darcy now

Thank you for your support!

Keep up with VAC’s animal rescue adventures here at KRL, and learn more about adopting from them, volunteering, and donating to VAC on their website If you advertise with KRL you can designate 10% of your ad fees to go to VAC.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue.